Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, National Ground-Water Monitoring Network | G25AS00001

Opportunity Information: Apply for G25AS00001

The US Geological Survey (USGS), through its Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, is offering cooperative agreement funding to help state and local water-resources agencies that collect groundwater data participate in and strengthen the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN). The core purpose is to expand and improve the nationwide network of groundwater monitoring by supporting agencies that provide data to the NGWMN, whether they are new partners being connected for the first time or existing partners working to keep their data services reliable and useful over time. The legal authority for this effort comes from Public Law 111-11 (Secure Water), Section 9507, titled "Water Data Enhancement by the United States Geological Survey," which supports USGS work to enhance water data systems and accessibility.

Funding is intended for practical, implementation-focused work that helps integrate groundwater monitoring information into the NGWMN and ensures it remains accessible through persistent, standards-based data services. The announcement anticipates up to $1.7 million available (not guaranteed) based on Federal FY2024 expectations, and it explicitly notes that this estimate does not commit USGS to a particular number of awards or specific award sizes. Importantly, Congress had not authorized FY2025 funds for NGWMN at the time of the notice, meaning USGS cannot actually make awards until the needed appropriations are in place, even if applications are submitted and reviewed.

Awards are limited in size depending on project length: applicants may request up to $150,000 for a one-year project or up to $300,000 for a two-year project. Projects must be structured so that all work is completed within a two-year cycle from the start date, with the actual start date depending on when funds become available and when the agreement is finalized. Even with that flexibility, proposals must specify a start date that falls between July 1, 2025 and September 30, 2025. For routine work specifically tied to maintaining persistent data services (described as Objective 2A in the program), funding is capped at $20,000 per year, although agencies responsible for more than 500 sites may request up to $40,000 per year for that routine data-service maintenance component.

Because USGS expects to play an active role in helping recipients carry out the work, the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant. USGS involvement is described as substantial, especially for new data providers, where USGS will support tasks like selecting and classifying monitoring sites and setting up web services that connect to the NGWMN Data Portal. For existing data providers, USGS will also provide guidance on improving the supporting site information collected for wells, on well maintenance practices, and on drilling activities that may be necessary to strengthen or expand monitoring in ways that align with NGWMN needs. In other words, the program is not just paying for data collection; it is paying for the work needed to make groundwater monitoring data better documented, more consistent, and more accessible through shared infrastructure.

Eligible applicants include state governments and local governments (county and city/township), along with other qualifying entities described in the notice, but the main target audience is clearly state or local water-resource agencies that already collect groundwater data and can contribute it to the national network. The opportunity is listed as discretionary, uses the cooperative agreement instrument, falls under the natural resources activity category, and is associated with CFDA number 15.980. The funding opportunity number is G25AS00001, and the application deadline is January 16, 2025, with the opportunity created on October 10, 2024.

• The Geological Survey in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, National Ground-Water Monitoring Network" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.980.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-10-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-16. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Others.

Apply for G25AS00001

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